Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #32 (Worship). September 22, 2013

Hello my dear friends! One of the distinguishing marks of the disciple of Jesus is a heart that is set apart to worship God. We want our way, often. When we want His, we are saying to Him: "Take my heart all of it and have Your way with me."

Because He reigns over all, He reigns over our heart too.

Learning to bend my will to His,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #32

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; Let the many islands be glad. Psalm 97:1

Core Value: Worship

God is in charge, and we are not. This is a true statement, but we often act in ways that seek to keep us in control. How do you know if you have a heart of worship? The true heart of worship is an obedient heart, a surrendered heart, a heart that is completely His.

Principle #32 & Personal Application: Quality disciples worship a God who transcends all racial, cultural and political boundaries.

• Jesus is Lord of every person, no matter the color of one’s own skin

• Jesus is Lord of every culture, no matter the preference we choose

• Jesus is Lord of every nation, no matter where in the world it might be

• Jesus is Lord of all

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What does it mean for me to have the Lord reign over my life?

Have I ever worshiped with another believer who was “different” than me?

What can I learn from other members of the body of Christ that will enhance my worship of God?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, I am thankful that You reign. You reign over people from every race. You reign over every culture. You reign over every tribe and nation. You reign over me.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…

Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Dr. Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2013 All rights reserved.

You can learn how to live as a Quality Disciple and a DiscipleMaker4Jesus by visiting my website at www.dennybates.com and my teaching blog at http://www.dennybates.com/#!blog/c1a4e

Psalms of Discipleship. Principle #4 (Worship). February 4, 2013

Hello my dear friends! In today's Psalms of Discipleship we will learn about the dangers of exchanging our love and devotion for God to other people and other things. No disciple of Jesus ever makes it a personal goal to live a life dedicated to idolatry. But it can, and it does happen. May it not happen to us.

Learning to focus my worship, all of it, upon Jesus,

Denny

Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #4

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 8 "Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, if you would listen to Me! 9 "Let there be no strange god among you; Nor shall you worship any foreign god. 10 "I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. 11 "But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me. 12 "So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in their own devices. Psalm 81:8-12

Core Value: Worship

There is nothing that is more heart breaking to Jesus than when His children share their affections with someone or something else. True, we do live in a culture where we are exposed to many “good” things that appeal to our natural passions. And yes, it is true that we still struggle with the inner man that wants its way. But it is also true that we are forced to make daily choices of allegiance to Jesus. We have to choose to make Him Lord of all. When we do not keep our worship focused upon Jesus, we open up the very real possibility of drifting away into false worship. We become idolaters. Yes, even disciples of Jesus can embrace “strange and foreign gods.”

Is there a solution for this awful outcome? Yes, there is a solution. It is our love for God and His perfect love for us that will motivate us to obey Him.

Principle #4 & Personal Application: Quality disciples seek not to only obey God but to love Him too.

• A true worship of God will lead to a heart that will listen to the Lord

• A true worship of God will protect us from the snare of a false worship

• A true worship of God will protect us from the stubbornness of our own heart

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…

What are some of the things (or people) that are potential (or even real) idols that tempt me?

What are some practical ways that I can protect my heart from worshipping other gods?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, may my heart always be soft and willing to submit to Your Lordship. May I not succumb to the idols that pull at my heart. May I always be not only willing to listen to Your voice, but to obey You completely.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Dr. Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2013 All rights reserved.

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/

Psalms of Discipleship--Principle #43--Worship--November 5, 2011

Hello my dear friends! We are quickly entering into a season on the calendar that even non-believers understand: the need to give thanks. To give thanks! How much more so should believers in Jesus Christ be in tune with thanking God and giving Him glory. The Psalmist reminds us that worship is not an non-committal act of going through the motions. Biblical worship should consume all our energy with an enthusiastic worship.

Need some encouragement on how to set in place a heart of worship and thanksgiving this holiday season? At the end of today's devotion is a link to a resource called "Christmas Meditations of Worship: Four Weeks of Advent. A Season of Worship and Celebration." This four week, interactive study is a great tool for individual and group study.

Learning with you,

Denny


Psalms of Discipleship—Principle #43

Life Principles For Those Who Choose To Follow Jesus And Live The Discipled Life

Key Scripture: 1 O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy. 2 For the LORD Most High is to be feared, A great King over all the earth. Psalm 47:1-2

Core Value: Worship

Worship fatigue. Do you experience it? Its symptoms are a callus heart, a mundane life, and a defeated surrender to a hollow religious experience (and calling it Christianity). Worship fatigue is the logical outcome when the most important relationship we have in the Christian faith (our love affair with Jesus) is replaced with meaningless rituals that are kept solely due to a legalistic duty, not out of love. Worship fatigue can become fatal to one’s spiritual life unless it is quickly discovered and remedied.

What is the only known antidote for worship fatigue? We surrender to Jesus. We worship Jesus by faith and in obedience and express a passionate love for the living Lord Jesus Christ. For once we know Him, really know Him, and experience Him, really experience Him, and love Him, really love Him, our worship for Him will consume us entirely (our hands and our voice), all of us. This timeless principle rings true: An energetic worship of Jesus will produce an energetic faith.

Principle #43 & Personal Application: The quality disciple practices an energetic worship of God.

• We can worship the Lord with our hands.
• We can worship the Lord with our voice of joy.
• We can worship the Lord with a reverent fear of Him.

1. Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.

2. Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3. Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.

4. Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

5. Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

6. Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee

Take My Life and Let It Be | Frances R. Havergal

Reflect & Respond: Some Really Good Questions To Ponder…
What realistic steps can I begin to take that will enhance my worship of God?

What kinds of things I can shout out to God about today?

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, this day I choose to renew my worship of You. I choose to become more energetic, more expressive of my love for You. Take my life, my hands, my voice, my treasures, my will, my love and use them as an offering of worship directed to You.

The Essential Core Values Of The Quality Disciple Are…
Grace—Worship—Bible Study—Prayer—Community—Service—Evangelism

Denny Bates & Something New Christian Publishers © 2011 All rights reserved.

"Christmas Meditations of Worship: Four Weeks of Advent. A Season of Worship and Celebration."

Sights. Smells. Sounds. Sales.

For many people, Christmas is nothing more than a materialistic exercise in futility. The hectic pace of the holiday season often depletes more than it fills, and the craziness of the season is normalized, causing many believers to settle for a “Christ-less” Christmas.

Reflection upon the first Advent is the first step towards regaining the reason believers celebrate Christmas: worship of Jesus Christ. You are invited to back away from the edge of Christmas season sanity and begin a four-week journey of reading, reflection, prayer, journaling, singing and serving that will give you the merriest Christmas of all.

Available in print ($10.00 includes shipping) and e-book ($5.00 pdf download) formats. Click this link to begin placing your order:

http://www.dennybates.com/Home/Advent.html

www.dennybates.com
http://thequalitydisciple.blogspot.com/